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• The Roku Channel is becoming tightly integrated with Google TV
• Roku's 500-plus free channels will be searchable and easily accessible
• Home screen integration for recommendations and currently watched titles

The Roku Channel is about to get a whole lot better on Google TV and Android TV. Over the next few weeks, Roku and Google will be improving the Roku Channel experience to make it much easier to find things you'll want to watch, while significantly upgrading your Google TV experience.

Starting today, Google TV will be rolling out Roku Channel integration that'll add the channel to the Google TV search feature. It'll also bring Roku's 500-plus FAST (Free, Ad-Supported TV) channels into Google TV's Live tab, the free hub for live TV.

On paper, this looks like a win-win: Google TV users get improved viewing options and Roku gets more visibility, which no doubt will mean more viewers.

The Roku Channel is free and currently offers more than 80,000 ad-supported titles – movies as well as shows – as well as channels such as ABC News. So Google TV fans certainly won't be short of choice during the holidays this year.

Are you ready to Roku?

(Image credit: Roku)

This integration also means that you'll be able to jump straight back in to Roku Channel shows, while Google TV will now show selected Roku Channel content in new home screen rows such as 'featured on the Roku channel' as well as the Free Live TV row.

Although this specific integration is with Google TV, those aren't the only Android-powered platforms The Roku Channel is available on. You can also get it on compatible Fire TV and Samsung devices. And of course The Roku Channel is also available online and via the Roku Mobile app.

We currently rate The Roku Channel as the best free streaming service for Roku devices, thanks to that big library of movies and TV shows, plus its 350 live TV channels in the US.

And our main gripe, that you need Roku hardware for the best experience, is slowly being eased by its improved availability on other devices, including Google TV.

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• Russia’s APT28 cyber-espionage group linked to ‘Nearest Neighbor Attack’
• Victim’s Wi-Fi network was protected, but its neighbor’s wasn’t
• Timing aligns with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022

Russian cyber-espionage group APT28, also known as Fancy Bear, was able to breach an American company’s network by leveraging a ‘Nearest Neighbor Attack’ exploiting nearby Wi-Fi networks.

First identified by cybersecurity firm Volexity in February 2022, the attack raises new concerns about vulnerabilities in corporate Wi-Fi system.

In this case, APT28, tracked by Volexity as ‘GruesomeLarch,’ targeted a US organization engaged in Ukrainian-related projects, hence the nation-state’s interest in the firm.

‘nearest neighbour attacks’

The attack on the unnamed US company – a customer of Volexity’s whose identity has been protected – started with password-spraying to acquire credentials for the victim’s enterprise Wi-Fi network. The firm’s multi-factor authentication protected its public-facing systems however the hackers then turned to a nearby organization to force entry.

Volexity explained: “The threat actor was halfway around the world and could not actually connect to [the victim’s] Enterprise Wi-Fi network. To overcome this hurdle, the threat actor worked to compromise other organizations who were in buildings within close proximity to [the victim’s] office. Their strategy was to breach another organization.”

APT28 exploited a device that was connected to both wired and wireless networks – it acted as a bridge to the target’s enterprise Wi-Fi, enabling lateral movement and data exfiltration.

Furthermore, the attackers used native Windows tools like Cipher.exe to erase evidence, making it hard to detect and trace the attack. They also exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the Windows Print Spooler service to escalate privileges within the victim’s network.

Given that the attack took place weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its geopolitical significance aligns with its choice of target company.

Volexity is now advising all companies to monitor suspicious activity, create separate networking environments for Wi-Fi and Ethernet networks, and apply authentication and certificate-based solutions.

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This would be a big uptick from the five annual launches it's currently allowed.

Black Friday laptop deals 2024

(Image credit: Future)

Welcome to our pick of the best Black Friday laptop deals. We're only a few days away from November 29 (the big day itself), and early offers on Windows 11 machines, Chromebooks and MacBooks are rolling in at a steady pace.

This can all be a bit overwhelming, especially when there are so many offers out there, and there's so much jargon being thrown about. The good news is that we're here to help with this comprehensive guide. I've been covering Black Friday events for well over a decade, and reviewing laptops for even longer, so I'll be using my expert judgement when scouring retailers across the internet to pick only the best laptop deals for a wide range of uses.

I'll also be giving live expert advice throughout the week in this very article, so if you're on the hunt for a new laptop this Black Friday, then this page really is the only one you need. I'll be covering laptop deals for both the US and UK from all trustworthy retailers, so you can buy with confidence.

Black Friday laptop deals in the US

• Amazon: up to $300 off Apple MacBooks
• Best Buy: laptops and Chromebooks from $139
• Dell: up to $900 off XPS and Inspiron devices
• Samsung: up to $900 off Galaxy Books
• Target: up to 25% off laptops
• Walmart: MacBook Air M1 for $649.99

Processor: Intel Celeron N200
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 64GB

This early Black Friday deal on the HP Chromebook 15 is perfect if you're looking for a machine that can handle just the basics. As a Chromebook, it doesn't need much power under the hood to run so the combination of 8GB of RAM and an Intel Celeron chipset are perfect if you want something for checking emails or web browsing. There are cheaper Chromebooks on the market right now, but I'd recommend this one specifically because it has 8GB of RAM (and the price cut is so good).View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i5-1235U
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

It's hard to find a better cheap laptop deal in the early Black Friday sales than this Inspiron 15. It's nothing fancy, but this machine manages to pack in both a powerful Intel Core i5 chipset and a sizeable 512GB SSD in for just $300 - that's not bad to say the least. While you're only getting 8GB of RAM here, this is still a good choice if you're just looking for a cost-effective machine to cover the basics. View Deal

Processor: Ryzen 7-5700U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This is my favorite lower to mid-range laptop deal in the early Best Buy Black Friday sale. It's another solid Windows workhorse that features deceptively powerful components for the price - in this case a Ryzen 7 chipset and 16GB of RAM. That's not bad for under $500 if you need something that can handle relatively demanding day-to-day tasks.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i7-1255U
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

Moving up in price slightly, you'll be able to score this upgraded configuration on the Dell Inspiron 15 in the official Dell site's Black Friday sale. This particular machine comes with 16GB of RAM, a powerful Core i7 chipset, and a decent 1TB SSD, meaning it's a great choice if you want something that can handle more intensive tasks. This one is a good choice for a cheap working from home laptop in particular. View Deal

MSI is known for its powerful gaming laptops, but they can often come at a pretty hefty price point. The MSI Thin 15, however, is an absolute steal right now for under $600. This model has better specs than the one we reviewed a little while back (which we gave 4.5 out of 5 stars), so you won't find better 1080p gaming on the go for this price.View Deal

Processor: Apple M3
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 256GB

Recommended: The 2024 MacBook Air is TechRadar's pick for the best overall Apple laptop and this is the first discount we've spotted on the new version with 16GB of RAM for improved performance. It also houses the super-powerful M3 processor, which is strong enough to support Apple Intelligence and the majority of advanced computing jobs you can throw at it, including video editing, photo editing, and coding. As part of the Air family, it measures only half an inch thick, with battery life that can reportedly last up to 18 hours. If you want a build with more storage, you can upgrade to the 512GB model for an extra $200.View Deal

Processor: Snapdragon X Elite
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

Recommended: Here it is, folks - the best deal yet on the latest Dell XPS 13. Complete with a brand-new Snapdragon X Elite chipset, this model is capable of not just exceptional day-to-day performance, but also battery life that's simply a cut-above what Windows laptops usually offer. Alongside superb specs, the latest XPS 13 also features a gorgeous lightweight design and a display that's perfect for both work and casual everyday use.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7-155H
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

Dell's Black Friday deals on the higher-end XPS 13 models are also amazing this week. Take this Ultra 7 configuration, for example, a massive $500 price cut makes this one a lot easier on the pocket. While I wouldn't immediately recommend a machine with 32GB of RAM to everyone (it's overkill for most), this is a great choice for a professional-grade laptop. View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 4070
Processor: Intel Core i9-13900HX
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB

If I had to buy a gaming laptop in the Dell Black Friday sale with my own money, it would be this Dell G16. At $1,299 what's not to like here? It's one of the cheapest RTX 4070 gaming laptop deals on the market right now and it has an incredibly powerful 13th gen Core i9 chipset, mechanical keyboard, and a 240Hz 1600p display. These are superb all-around specs and should last a few good years down the line in terms of performance. View Deal

A powerful RTX 4090 gaming laptop with an immersive mini-LED display, the Razer Blade 16 is simply one of the best gaming laptops on the market, and any discount on this system should be seen as generous - but this whopping $1300 price cut makes this Blade 16 the cheapest it's ever been.View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 4060
Processor: Ryzen 7-7840HS
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

Moving on to gaming laptops, my favorite cheaper option is this outstandingly good value Dell G15 with an RTX 4060 and Ryzen 7. These are outstanding specs to get at this price point and should be more than enough to get you started if you're aiming to play games at 1080p resolution. With 16GB out the box, this one doesn't need any glaring upgrades - although a 512GB SSD doesn't go far these days unless you're installing games with less storage requirement. View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 4070
Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9-185H 
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

And, for those on the lookout for an Alienware gaming laptop - this is the best deal in the Dell Black Friday sale in my opinion. It's on the latest revision of the awesome m16 model and it features one of the latest Ultra 9 chipsets alongside the powerful RTX 4070 graphics card. These specs alongside a gorgeous design and 1600p 240Hz display mean that this is one serious high-end laptop - only made better by today's massive $400 price cut. View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i7-13620H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This is the best XPS laptop deal in the Dell Black Friday sale right now in my opinion. It's on the slightly older XPS 15 model but don't let that put you off as you're getting a super powerful 13th gen intel Core i7 chipset and 16GB of RAM here. The 15-inch model hasn't been updated like the 13 so the design here is a little older but it still has a really high-end lightweight construction and near-borderless display. View Deal

MacBook Air M3 (2024): was $1,099 now $899.99 at Best Buy
Display - 13.6 inches
Processor - Apple M3
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 256GB
OS - macOS

This is my top pick for a MacBook deal in the build-up to Black Friday. It's on the latest MacBook Air M3 at Best Buy - in particular the slightly upgraded 16GB configuration. That should afford an edge with overall performance and longevity and today's $200 discount at Best Buy also brings this listing down to its lowest ever price. Generally speaking, this isn't the cheapest MacBook deal I've seen (you can get the M2 for $799) but it's probably the one I'd spring for right now if it were my own cash I was laying down. View Deal

Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge: was $1,099 now $899.99 at Best Buy
Display - 16 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X Elite
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 512GB
OS - Windows 11

Looking for a cutting-edge Windows laptop that directly competes with the very best from Apple? This heavily reduced Samsung Galaxy Book4 at Best Buy comes complete with one of the latest ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite chipsets, which not only gives it great performance but also almost unbeatable battery life. View Deal

MacBook Air M2 (2022): was $999 now $649.99 at Best Buy
Display - 13.6 inches
Processor - Apple M2
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 256GB
OS - macOS

Record low price: Just when you thought it couldn't go any lower - Best Buy has just listed a brand-new record-low price on the excellent MacBook Air m2. Even though a newer M3 version is available, we concluded that this is still one of the best laptops you can buy in our MacBook Air M2 review, thanks to the stylish design, clear display, impressive performance, and long 18-hour battery life. For those needing a premium powerhouse for creative apps such as photo editing, video editing and more intense workloads, this is a near-unbeatable offer on an Apple machine right now - and one I don't see going any lower thanks to the Best Buy Holiday price guarantee. View Deal

Graphics card: RTX 4060
Processor: Ryzen 7-8845HS
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

This is the best gaming laptop deal in the Curry's Black Friday sale, in my opinion. While the discount isn't the biggest, you're paying a fair price here for the specs on offer - and you're also getting recent specs here, unlike some listings. It's not cheap, but I'd say this is a wise investment if you're looking to play games smoothly for a good few years on this machine's 144Hz 1080p display.View Deal

Black Friday laptop deals in the UK

• Amazon: deals from £199.99
• Acer: up to 50% off laptops
• Argos: cheap Chromebooks from £179
• Currys: up to £500 off Apple, Lenovo & Acer
• Dell: up to £300 off
• John Lewis: Asus & HP from £159.99
• Samsung: Galaxy Book4 - up to £750 off

Processor: Intel Core i3
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB

This Acer 514 Chromebook Plus offers an impressive amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel i3 processor, dramatically boosting performance, boot times and load times. There's also a decent 128GB of storage and battery life is excellent at up to 10 hours on a single charge. That's more than enough to last a full working day. At £250, it's a bargain for school or college, or just as a home laptop that you use for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Display - 15.6 inches
Processor - Intel Core i3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB
OS - Windows 11

You'll be hard-pushed to find a cheaper Windows 11 laptop deal this Black Friday - certainly one that's worth buying, anyway. The specs for this laptop are solid, and will be fine for most day-to-day tasks, and the large 1080p screen will make using the laptop feel comfortable, especially if you like to multitask. You get the full version of Windows 11, which will give you more flexibility when it comes to software, yet for a price many Chromebooks go for.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i5-12500H
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

It's a bit older now but I'd highly rate this Asus Vivobook 15 when it comes to value. For £400 you're getting not just a powerful 12th gen Intel Core i5 chipset but also an OLED display - something you usually only see on higher-end machines. Generally speaking, the specs here are more than adequate for the basics and this lightweight machine is perfect for consuming content thanks to its decent display. View Deal

Processor: Intel i5
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 512GB

Currys has taken a whopping £300 off this mid-range laptop that boasts a slick 14-inch IPS screen, Intel i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 512GB SSD and a decent up to 14-hour battery life. These components ensure solid overall performance for most day-to-day tasks including browsing, working and streaming videos. I'm particularly impressed with the large and fast storage at this price, which is more than enough room for your files, applications, photos, videos and more.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i9-13900H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

For the price, it's hard to imagine getting a laptop with better specs than this highly discounted Asus Zenbook in the Currys Black Friday sale. Not only does this one have a Core i9 chipset and 1TB SSD, but it also features a high-end OLED display that's perfect for both every-day work and watching content. Overall, this is a very premium machine for a mid-range price so you simply can't go wrong here if your budget fits.View Deal

Display - 13.2 inches
Processor - Intel Core i5-1340P
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 256GB
OS - Windows 11

This stylish thin and light 2-in-1 laptop from Samsung offers very good performance in all manner of tasks, and thanks to its 360-degree hinge, you can flip the keyboard back to use it as a tablet, while still using full Windows 11 applications. The versatile S-Pen stylus makes it a joy to work on, as well as doodle and draw, and around 20-hours of battery life will keep it going over numerous work and school days.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i5
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

If you’ve been looking to invest in a device that looks great and offers excellent performance here's a good deal on the latest Samsung Galaxy Book4. It's powered by one of the latest mid-range Intel Core 5 processors, plus there's 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD for decent overall performance. You pay more for the lovely display and sleek design of these machines, so you can get more power for a similar price if you prefer. However, it's hard to find much that competes with this Samsung Galaxy Book4 in terms of style, especially when you consider it boasts a great battery life, too.View Deal

Processor: Intel Core i7-1185G7
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 512GB

This Microsoft Surface 4 is a little older now but it's still an amazing choice if you want a premium Windows laptop at a relatively reasonable budget. Not only does this machine have a superb MacBook-like design and a great display, but this one also features an 11th gen Intel Core i7 chipset and 16GB of RAM for plenty of power under the hood. View Deal

The MSI Thin 15 is a fantastic device for 1080p gaming on the go that doesn't break the bank. This laptop offers a fast 144Hz refresh FHD display, 13th-gen Intel Core i7 CPU, RTX 4050 GPU, and 16GB RAM. If we had a complaint, it'd be the rather small 512GB storage, but you can always upgrade it with a bigger SSD if necessary. And for the price, you really can't go wrong here. View Deal

Processor: Intel Ultra 7 155H
RAM: 16GB
Storage: 1TB

The Asus Zenbook range is often overlooked in favour of the more well-known Apple MacBook or Dell XPS 13 laptops but they're awesome premium laptops in their own right. This Zenbook 14, for example, not only comes with incredibly up-to-date (and speedy) components, but it's also packing an impressive 3K OLED touchscreen display, which makes it absolutely perfect for working or kicking-back and consuming media. View Deal

Processor: Apple M3
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 256GB

Apple's latest version of the MacBook Air is our pick for the best laptop you can buy right now, with a decent 23% discount for customers in the UK, which makes Apple's best-value MacBook even better value. Windows 11 laptops at this price point just can't compare, and this is an ideal Black Friday MacBook deal for people looking for a thin, light, and dependable laptop to use for school and work.View Deal

Thanks to its ridiculously powerful internal components (and RTX 4090 and Intel Core i9-14900HX plus 32GB of RAM), this iteration of Razer's iconic Blade 16 laptop can take full advantage of its gorgeous QHD+ OLED screen when playing the latest PC games. At almost 20% off, it's a solid deal for gamers seeking the best of the best this Black Friday.View Deal

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3: was £599.99 now £349.99 at Currys
Display - 15.6 inches
Processor - Intel Core i5-13420H
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 512GB
OS - Windows 11

When it comes to cheap Windows laptops that do the job, you can do a lot worse than this incredibly good value Lenovo IdeaPad at Currys. Not only are you getting a pretty recent (and powerful) 13th gen Core i5 chipset inside this machine but it also comes with a decent 512GB SSD. For £350? it's hard to complain here.View Deal

Asus Chromebook Plus: was £399.99 now £259.99 at Amazon
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel i3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 128GB
OS - ChromeOS

This Asus Chromebook Plus offers an impressive amount of power for the price. It includes 8GB of RAM and an Intel i3 processor, dramatically boosting performance, boot times and load times. There's also a decent 128GB of storage and battery life is excellent at 10 hours on a single charge. That's more than enough to last a full working day. At around £250, it's a bargain for school or college, or just as a home laptop that you use for light use and everyday tasks.View Deal

Lenovo Yoga Slim 7X: was £1,299 now £899 at Currys
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Snapdragon X Elite
RAM - 16GB
Storage - 1TB
OS - Windows 11

Copilot Plus PCs with the latest Snapdragon processors have shaken up the laptop market lately with their excellent performance, ludicrous battery life and impressive all-around power. If one has been on your shopping list then Currys has a solid £300 discount on this latest Lenovo model that boasts a high-end spec that will blitz through the majority of jobs. It also boasts a massive 24-hour battery life, a gorgeous 3K screen and weighs just over 1kg for easy portability.

Acer Aspire Go: was £429 now £349 at Currys
Display - 14 inches
Processor - Intel i3
RAM - 8GB
Storage - 256GB
OS - Windows 11

If you want a cheap Windows laptop then this new Acer Aspire Go is a strong buy at this low price. It features an Intel i3 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD to ensure good overall performance and a reasonable amount of speedy storage for the price. It's a top buy right now if you're on a budget and need a modern laptop with over 8 hours of battery life for general everyday use, admin tasks and light work.View Deal

(Image credit: Getty Images)

With Black Friday now fast approaching, Black Friday laptop deals are coming in thick and fast, so we've overhauled this guide to give you live buying advice and highlighting the best deals as they pop up.

Buying a new laptop at any time of the year is a big consideration, and during sales events like Black Friday, you might feel a bit lost or overwhelmed, with all kinds of specs and jargon flying around. How can you tell what's a genuinly good deal, and what's not? I'm here to help, and I'll be checking out laptop deals from Amazon, Best Buy, Currys and Argos – plus loads more.

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Gorodenkoff)

Let's start with a bit of buying advice. Before buying a new laptop, have a clear idea of what your budget is and what you want to use the laptop for. There are a lot of different types of laptop out there, so knowing what kind will suit your needs will make things a lot easier.

You'll likely see laptops fall into three main categories: laptops, Chromebooks and MacBooks.

Laptops are usually Windows 11 devices, and these come in all shapes and sizes. There are plenty of budget laptops out there that are good picks for people who just need something to browse the web and write up documents. There are also powerful gaming laptops, premium thin and light laptops, 2-in-1 devices and more.

(Image credit: Future)

So, let's kick off with some awesome early Black Friday deals on laptops. Now that we are only a few days away from the big day itself, prices are steadily dropping - and in some cases, I can't see prices going much lower on November 29 (the day Black Friday lands on), so it's safe to jump on any of these deals.

As usual, Dell has got some great Black Friday deals on, like its Inspiron 15 laptop that comes with a 12th gen Intel Core i7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of strorage for just $470. That's an excellent price for a well-built and reliable everyday laptop.

Dell Inspiron 15 laptop: was $699 now $469.99 at Dell

(Image credit: Dell / Future)

If you're in the UK, then Dell has the excellent Inspiron 16 laptop for sale with a big £170 discount. This gets you an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, 16GB of RAM and 1TB storage, plus a lovely large 16-inch screen to work on.

Dell Inspiron 16 laptop: was £749 now £579 at Dell

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Pramata)

Next, there are Chromebooks. These are usually much cheaper than Windows 11 laptops, and also boast impressively long battery lives, making them ideal for students in particular.

Chromebooks run Chrome OS, rather than Windows 11, which is a lightweight operating system based on Google's Chrome browser. Chrome OS has evolved over the years, and there are lots of apps available for all kinds of tasks.

When I say Chrome OS is lightweight, what I mean by that is that it is designed for efficiency over power and features. This allows it to run on less powerful hardware than other operating systems which is why Chromebooks are often a lot cheaper than other laptops, and why their batteries last longer. The downside is that this does mean Chromebooks don't come with all the features you'd expect from traditional laptops, and many apps that you can use in Windows 11 or macOS don't work in Chrome OS - though there are usually alternatives. We've got a dedicated guide to the best Black Friday Chromebook deals if you feel these are the best type of laptop for your needs.

(Image credit: Future / HP)

Over in the Chromebook department, there are some super-cheap ChromeOS laptops available right now thanks to Black Friday sales at a range of retailers.

First up is this HP Chromebook 15, which is cheaper than half-price at Best Buy right now thanks to a hefty $220 reduction - an excellent deal for a laptop that was already pretty good value for money.

Equipped with an Intel N200 CPU and 8GB of RAM, it's not going to run all the latest games and dazzle you with its graphical performance, but if you're looking for a straightforward workhorse laptop for everyday tasks like answering emails and browsing the web, this is a solid pick. Thanks to the low hardware requirements of ChromeOS, you should have a smooth experience.

HP Chromebook 15: was $399 now $179 at Best Buy

(Image credit: Future / HP)

Chromebook hunters over in the UK will also be able to take advantage of some hearty Black Friday discounts - like this HP Chromebook Plus 15, which is down to £279 (a saving of £170) at Currys right now.

'Plus' Chromebooks are usually a bit pricier, but also adhere to a strict set of requirements laid down by Google to provide the best possible ChromeOS laptop experience. These include a certain level of processing power - delivered here by the Intel Core i3 chip - as well as minimum requirements for the RAM and storage capacity plus a mandatory Full HD webcam. All these features combined inside HP's unassuming Chromebook chassis make for a solid productivity laptop for any office worker or student.

HP Chromebook Plus 15: was £449 now £279 at Currys

(Image credit: Future / Acer)

For anyone looking for a more premium Chromebook, the Acer Chromebook Spin 714 is an excellent choice right now - almost a third off at Amazon. This Chromebook features a 12th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, Full HD touchscreen, and 360-degree hinge for swapping into tablet mode (with a garaged stylus too!) for a more versatile laptop experience.

I'd call the $749.99 entry price for this Acer Chromebook a bit steep - given that Chromebooks are meant to be affordable alternatives to Windows laptops - but cut down to $529 for Black Friday, it's an absolute bargain. You're getting a clean and premium design with fast performance for almost a third off the retail price, and I love to see it.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: was $749.99 now $529 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future / Acer)

UK browsers can enjoy a nice discount on that Acer Chromebook Spin 714 too - not quite as large a reduction as seen over in the US, but still a very respectable £150 off at Currys - and this model packs a larger 512GB SSD, too, letting you download and store more apps and files locally.

Anyone who wants to use ChromeOS but doesn't want to compromise at all on the feature set and build quality of their laptop should definitely give this one a look. With a 1200p touchscreen, strong port selection, and a smart stylus that quick-charges when slotted back inside the chassis, this is the perfect Chromebook for the busy professional on the go.

Acer Chromebook Spin 714: was £799 now £649 at Currys

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Farknot Architect)

Then there are MacBooks. These laptops are made by Apple and run the macOS operating system. While macOS does things a bit differently from Windows 11, you shouldn't worry if you're making the leap, as you'll soon get accustomed to its user interface - and pretty much any program you use in Windows 11 will have a macOS version - even Microsoft products like Microsoft Office.

Currently, there are two main types of MacBook - the thin, light and affordable MacBook Air, and the much more powerful (and expensive) MacBook Pro. However, each of these actually come in various sizes and specifications.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

The MacBook Air M1 is a few years old by this point, but it is still a powerhouse of a laptop, especially for one as light and portable as it is (and quiet too, thanks to its fanless cooling).

Powered by first-generation Apple Silicon (the Apple M1 chip), this laptop absolutely changed the game when it came to laptop performance and longevity, with some of the best battery life you're going to find anywhere on the market.

This configuration, available now at Walmart, features the 8-core version of the Apple M1 chip, 8GB unified memory, a 256GB PCIe SSD, and a 13.3-inch Retina display. The Rose Gold colorway is sold out, but you can still get it in Silver and Space Gray, all for the lowest price I've ever seen for an M1 MacBook Air.

Apple MacBook Air M1: was $699 now $599 at Walmart

(Image credit: Future)

In my opinion, the best deal right now for a MacBook Air is this one from Amazon:

MacBook Air 13-inch (M3): was $1,099 now $844

Why is this so good? For a start, that big price cut gets it below $900, making an already fantastic-value MacBook even better value.

This deal is also for the new model of the MacBook Air - so you get the M3 chip, currently the most powerful chip in a MacBook Air, as well as 16GB of unified memory. This means it's an excellent buy for students or people looking for a thin and light MacBook that will last for years.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

In the UK, the same model gets a £150 price cut. Not quite as good as the offer our US cousins get, but you're again getting a gorgeous thin and light laptop with plenty of memory and powerful M3 chip at a price that puts a lot of Windows laptops to shame.

MacBook Air 13-inch (M3): was £999 now £849

(Image credit: Future) Should you buy a MacBook Air?

When it comes to the MacBook Air, the latest model comes with an M3 chip, 16GB of unified memory and 256GB SSD to start. This is available in two sizes: 13-inch and 15-inch. The M3 chip is an excellent all-round performer, and the choice in screen size will depend on what you feel most comfortable working on, with the smaller model offering more portability.

Apple also continues to officially sell the MacBook Air with M2 chip, again in 13-inch and 15-inch sizes. This older model is cheaper than the M3 version, and while the hardware isn't quite as cutting edge, the M2 remains an excellent performer for day-to-day tasks. It also features the same design and screen as the newer model, so you're not making too many compromises if you want the cheapest MacBook out there.

Apple has also made a tweak to the base models of both the M2 and M3 versions, and they now come with 16GB of unified memory rather than 8GB - so you get a hefty upgrade for the same price.

Some retailers may still sell the 8GB models, and as they try to clear stock we've seen some big price cuts for these versions. I'd still recommend getting the 16GB model if your budget stretches to it, as those models will be more future-proof. But for the absolute lowest price for a MacBook Air, the 8GB model could be a real winner during Black Friday.

(Image credit: Apple) Should you buy a MacBook Pro?

Apple's other laptop series is the MacBook Pro. As the name suggests, these laptops are designed for professional-level tasks, which means they are much more powerful than the MacBook Air - and they come with higher price tags to boot.

Modern MacBook Pro laptops come in two sizes, 14-inch and 16-inch, and come with Apple's latest and most powerful chips. Only last month, Apple launched new MacBook Pros with the extremely powerful M4 Pro and M4 Max chips. These are particularly adept at creative tasks such as 3D animation, game development, music production and video editing.

They come with much higher amounts of memory and storage space, and they feature some of the best displays you'll find in a laptop. All of this means prices can be very high, so if you're a creative professional looking to invest in a mobile workstation that will blast through tasks with ease for years to come, they are brilliant machines. However, if you don't need the extremely high level of performance they offer, you'll be much better off going for a MacBook Air.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

The new MacBook Pro 14-inch with the Apple M4 chip has been on the market for less than a month, but it's already getting a major price cut for Black Friday at Best Buy.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M4 (16GB/512GB/Space Black): was $1,599 now $1,399 at Best Buy

The model on sale at Best Buy right now is the base configuration of the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch, but don't let that fool you, as it's still more than powerful enough to chew through all kinds of prosumer workloads like photo and video editing, 3D modeling, and more.

Normally a very premium item in the best of times, this $200 discount for Black Friday makes it a lot more accessible for students and Mac fans on a tighter budget.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

While I'm still on the hunt for Black Friday MacBook Pro deals on MacBook Pro models with M4 chip in the UK, there are a bunch of M3-series MacBook Pro configurations on sale.

One of the best deals I've found so far is this £500 discount on the MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Max chip, 36GB memory, and a 1TB SSD in the Silver colorway. Even on sale, this MacBook Pro isn't cheap, but this deal does manage to get one of the most powerful laptops around to just under £3000, which is a great deal for pros who need a seriously powerful workstation.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3 Max/36GB/1TB/Silver): was £3,299 now £2,799 at Currys

(Image credit: Future / Lenovo)

Taking a break from MacBooks for the moment, I wanted to come around and bring you this fantastic Chromebook deal right now at Best Buy. It's not the absolute cheapest Chromebook I've been able to find this Black Friday, but it is the cheapest one I'd actually recommend you buy: the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook brings Lenovo's trusted design and build quality to the ultra-budget space, now even more ultra-budget-ier.

At half the retail price, this $159 Chromebook gives you lightweight laptop functionality for an incredibly low entry cost, making it an ideal first laptop for younger users (especially given ChromeOS's baked-in parental controls) or a solid pick for anyone with a tight budget who just needs a simple work laptop.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: was $319 now $159 at Best Buy

(Image credit: Future / Lenovo)

Funnily enough, the cheapest Chromebook I'd actually recommend to anyone in the UK this Black Friday is the exact same as in the US (a rare occurrence given how much discounts can fluctuate across the pond) - the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook is currently £100 off at Currys, bringing it down to an extremely reasonable £149.

Again: this laptop is not going to break any speed records. It's a very basic model, but the MediaTek Kompanio 520 processor and 4GB of RAM can still handle the lightweight ChromeOS and give you a perfectly pleasant laptop experience - provided you just want it for emails, word processing, and perhaps the odd bit of Netflix or YouTube.

Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 Chromebook: was £249 now £149 at Currys

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

Looking for a larger laptop that's still lightweight and easy to carry? Look no further than the MacBook Air 15-inch with M3 chip, which is down to nearly $1,000, a far cry from its original pricing:

MacBook Air 15-inch (M3): was $1,299 now $1,044 at Amazon

Though the increased size does hurt its portability a bit, it provides users with a larger screen, which is worth the tradeoff for many. Not to mention that it still has strong performance, speaker array, and a great design.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Morning has broken here in the rainy UK, and that means my hunt for the best Black Friday laptop deals continues! Amazingly, I didn't dream about laptop deals last night, which has happened before during Black Friday.

Anyway, I'll be bringing you top offers that might seem like a dream, but are DEADLY real. OK, maybe not 'deadly'...

Let's kick things off with an absolutely brilliant deal in the UK for the MacBook Air M2 model. As I suspected, Apple changing the base memory from 8GB to 16GB recently means retailers are cutting the price of the older 8GB models to new lows.

(Image credit: Apple)

Thanks to retailers bumping up newer models to 16GB of memory, this is the perfect time to get your hands on the M2 8GB model, which has plummeted in price:

MacBook Air 13-inch (M2): was £996 now £749 at Currys

The M2 chip is an upgrade from the M1, with even better performance and efficiency. And it's now close to the current sales price of the M1 MacBook Air, sweetening the deal.

(Image credit: Asus)

OK, here's an absolutely brilliant cheap Windows 11 laptop deal from John Lewis, knocking the price down to Chromebook-levels:

Vivobook 15 Laptop: was £349 now £259.99 at John Lewis

This laptop comes with an Intel Core i3 processor, 8GB of RAM, 512GB SSD and a 15.6-inch 1080p screen. It's a solidly built and stylish-looking budget laptop, and while it's not the most powerful laptop in the world, it offers incredible value for money.

This is a great pick for students or people looking for a casual laptop to do some work on, who wants something for less than £300 that's not a Chromebook. It looks like it's selling quickly at this price.

(Image credit: Future)

I've just spotted this great deal at Currys for the Samsung Galaxy Book3 360. A few years ago, Samsung laptops weren't anything to get too excited about, but the company has been putting out some fantastic devices recently, and at this new lower price (£350 off), you get an excellent 2-in-1 laptop:

Samsung Galaxy Book3 360: was £949 now £599

With an Intel Core i5 CPU, 8GB of RAM and a stunning OLED touchscreen, this is a brilliant performer, and a versatile laptop, as it can be used as a normal laptop, or with the keyboard folded back, it can be used like a tablet. Samsung claims up to 20 hours of battery life, which tracks with my experience of laptops powered by the Intel Core i5-1340P processor, depending on what tasks you're using it for.

For this price, I think it's an excellent deal for students and people who want a laptop they can use from the couch. Samsung's S Pen stylus is also included, giving this laptop even more versatility.

(Image credit: Future / Apple)

For those in the US looking for the perfect creative machine, the MacBook Pro equipped with the powerful M3 is a great start, thanks to superior Apple silicon, and now the price makes it much more approachable.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3): was $1,599 now $1,399 at Amazon

It also comes with a gorgeous liquid retina display and an impressive 22 hours of battery life, making it the perfect workstation for creatives.

The MacBook Pro 14-inch powered by the M3 chip has gotten a sizable discount in Australia as well, giving buyers a great workstation that offers excellent performance, a beautiful display, fantastic battery life, and more.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3): was AU$1,327 now AU$1,599 at JB Hi-Fi

(Image credit: Future / MSI)

Enough MacBooks, Chromebooks, and ultrabooks: let's talk gaming laptops for a minute. We're going to look at a few different deals on top-notch gaming hardware now, but I'm starting with something for budget-conscious gamers: the heavily discounted MSI Thin 15.

With a 13th-gen Intel Core i5 processor, Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card, and 16GB of RAM, the Thin 15 isn't a top-of-the-line powerhouse laptop, but it'll handle modern games just fine on its 144Hz 1080p display - especially since being an RTX 4000-series laptop, it can utilize Nvidia's DLSS 3 upscaling and frame-gen technology to boost performance and provide a more future-proof laptop experience. This is one of the absolutely cheapest RTX 4000 laptops we've seen this Black Friday, so don't skip this deal if you're gaming on a budget.

MSI Thin 15: was $899.99 now $599.99 at Best Buy

I've just been sent some Black Friday deals from Huawei, and there's some pretty good offers. Huawei products are still pretty much impossible to get in the US, but in the UK, they are more affordable alternatives to the likes of HP, Lenovo and Apple.

The Huawei's MateBook series takes obvious inspiration from the design of MacBooks, but in the past here at TechRadar we've found them to be more than just cheap lookalikes - they are very good laptops in their own rights, and if you have a Huawei smartphone or tablet, there's some nice productivity features that allow you to move files between devices quickly and easily, as well as see your phone screen within Windows 11, and lots more. Definitely worth considering these deals if you want an affordable laptop that doesn't feel cheap:

Huawei MateBook 14 (Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage): was £949.99 now £749.99 at Huawei

Huawei MateBook D16 (13th Gen Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB storage): was £699.99 now £449.99 at Huawei

Huawei MateBook D14 (12th gen Intel Core i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB storage): was £699.99 now £499.99

(Image credit: Future / MSI)

For gamers over in the UK, the cheapest gaming laptop I'd recommend is that trusty MSI Thin 15 again - though it looks like discounts on gaming laptops aren't quite as deep this Black Friday in the UK, so it might be worth considering a handheld gaming PC instead.

Still, this is the best-value RTX 4000 laptop I could track down in sunny (read: not sunny at all) Great Britain this week, a respectable 25% reduction bringing this MSI Thin 15 down to £749. It's worth noting that while this is a bit pricier than the US deal I already featured, it features an Intel Core i7 rather than the US model's i5, so it's a little more powerful in the CPU department.

MSI Thin 15: was £999 now £749 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future / Razer)

From the budget to the super-super-super-high-end, let's take a look at the iconic Razer Blade 16. The high entry price on Razer's flagship laptop line places them out of reach for many gamers - especially those equipped with a powerhouse RTX 4090 graphics card - but this staggeringly large discount suddenly makes this Blade 16 model look very attractive...

Packing an RTX 4090, 24-core Intel Core i9 HX CPU, and 32GB of RAM (along with a beefy 2TB of SSD storage), this Razer Blade 16 is phenomenal value thanks to a huge $1300 discount - almost a third off the retail price. If you're shopping for some high-end gaming hardware this Black Friday, this is the one to buy.

Razer Blade 16: was $4,299.99 now $2,999.99 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future / Razer)

You can snag a discounted Razer Blade 16 over in the UK too, with £800 (technically £800.99) off this model packing an RTX 4090 graphics card and 14th-gen Intel Core i9 CPU. The 16-inch OLED QHD+ 240Hz display is quite literally one of the best you're going to find on any laptop, making this an awesome choice for anyone who craves high-end gaming performance and has the cash to splash on a premium laptop.

Again, the discounts aren't quite as deep as our friends across the pond are seeing, but this is still a worthy deal - and since it's the 2024 model with full access to Nvidia's DLSS 3 tech, you can rest assured that this will be one future-proofed piece of gaming equipment.

Razer Blade 16: was £4,199.99 now £3,399 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future)

Onto some midrange gaming laptops now: I'll start with laptops featuring the RTX 4060, which sit comfortably at the more affordable end of the midrange space. My top pick in the US is the Dell G15, a delightfully unassuming 15.6-inch gaming laptop that's currently 20% off at Amazon.

With an AMD Ryzen 7-7840HS Processor and 16GB of DDR5 RAM backing up that RTX 4060 graphics card, this laptop is ideal for gaming at 1080p resolution and offers a 165Hz refresh rate on its display to ensure your screen never holds back your framerates in-game.

Dell G15: was $1,499.99 now $914.99 at Amazon

(Image credit: Dell / Future)

If you like the sound of these gaming laptop deals, then make sure you check out our whole collection of the best Black Friday gaming laptop deals, which our Computing Editor Christian Guyton is looking after. He knows his stuff, so he'll be offering plenty of excellent buying advice over there.

(Image credit: Future/Amazon)

When it comes to gaming laptops, I personally prefer gaming on a desktop PC - though I also love gaming handhelds like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X, which offer an excellent portable way for me to play PC games while out and about.

I've been playing a lot of the ROG Ally recently, and I would actually recommend it over a gaming laptop for many people - and thankfully there's some great deals for Black Friday, such as this one:

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme: was US$659.99 now US$614.99 at Amazon

Asus ROG Ally Z1 Extreme: was £499.99 now £399 at Amazon

That UK price is especially impressive. While this handheld isn't as powerful as most gaming laptops, it still does a fantastic job in a form factor I find much more comfortable to use. You won't get many good gaming laptops for $600/£400 either, no matter how big the Black Friday discount.

(Image credit: Future)

Our own Allisa James reviewed the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 14-inch and she said it was easily one of the best laptops she's used all year. It has the full package including exceptional performance, a great display, incredible battery life, and a thin and lightweight design. This is all in part to the Snapdragon X Plus CPU, which has completely turned around this laptop series to make it a true MacBook rival.

Microsoft Surface Laptop 7: w̶a̶s̶ $999.99, now $849.99 at Amazon

(Image credit: Future / Microsoft)

If you're looking for an even larger screen for your Surface Laptop, the 15-inch model is an excellent choice, especially at this price point:

Microsoft Surface Laptop (2024) 15-inch: w̶a̶s̶ $1,299.99, now $1,094.99

This version is equipped with a Snapdragon X Elite CPU with 12 cores, guaranteeing even better performance, speed, and battery life. This one also has a touchscreen, making it ideal as a workstation for creatives.

(Image credit: Future / Lenovo)

Year after year, the Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3 continues to be one of, if not THE, most popular Chromebooks on Black Friday, and it's not hard to see why.

This little, nearly-pocketable Chromebook might not have the most powerful specs, but for its already fantastic price, this is one of the best travel laptops you could ask for, giving you the functionality of a laptop (albeit with ChromeOS) together with the portability of the best tablets out there.

Lenovo Chromebook Duet 3: was $399.99 now $239.99 at Lenovo

(Image credit: Dell)

The Dell XPS 13 is an excellent buy for those wanting a highly portable laptop with plenty of extra power, as it features the AI-powered Intel Ultra 7 155H CPU along with a massive 32GB of RAM and 4TB of storage. Right now, the price has dropped by over $300.

Dell XPS 13: w̶a̶s̶ $1,759.99 now $1,439.99

Not to mention the unique and very sleek design that's sure to stand out. If you need a true workstation for heavy-duty creative or editing projects, this is the laptop to get now.

(Image credit: Acer)

Acer's latest AI PC offering is no slouch with a 3K OLED display that boasts a 144Hz refresh rate, perfect for PC gaming. It also has 16GB of RAM and a 1TB of storage, all wrapped up in a thinner and lighter package.

The best part is that this Ultrabook-level laptop is below $1,000 thanks to the $200 discount, so now's the time to invest.

Acer Swift 16 AI: w̶a̶s̶ $1,199.99 now $999.99

(Image credit: Dell)

If you want that same sleek and unique design from the XPS laptop series but with a slightly larger screen, the 14-inch model is up your alley. Even better, with its performance-driven specs it's a straight-up gaming laptop. Its Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 1 CPU, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage makes it a better gaming setup than most actual dedicated ones on the market.

Though the price is a bit steep, it's still $500 off and essentially a thin and light laptop with the latest in components.

Dell XPS 14: w̶a̶s̶ $2,499.99, now $1,999.99

(Image credit: Future / Lenovo)

The Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is a long-time favorite here at TechRadar, with Computing Editor John Loeffler declaring in his review that "One of the best Chromebooks ever just got better", thanks to its solid performance (for a Chromebook), phenomenal battery life, and it's absolutely stunning OLED 1080p display, a rarity on a device this affordable.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook: was $499 now $349 at Best Buy

(Image credit: Future / Lenovo)

While we're giving the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet Chromebook line some love here this week, I also wanted to make sure to not leave out our UK readers. Right now, you can get this Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook for 47% off, but this one surely won't last long.

Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 3 Chromebook: was £315.22 now £169.99 at Amazon

This particular model comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 processor with built-in graphics, 4GB memory, and 128GB eMMC flash storage, so it's not a performance powerhouse by any means, but as a hybrid Chromebook that can double as an 11-inch tablet with 2K display, it's hard to beat at this price.

(Image credit: Future / MSI)

OK, so I'm going to end my day here in New York with a bit of niche one for the two or three of you out there who might actually be up for buying this monster of a gaming laptop. This is the MSI Titan 18 HX, which is quite possibly the most overpowered, most unnecessarily extra gaming laptop on the market with a retail price tag that is usually stuck to the windshield of a decent used car.

Normally selling for near or above $5,000, Micro Center has a deal on it right now that takes a substantial chunk off the top, making it at least somewhat more affordable. In fact, it's the lowest price I've ever seen for this laptop in the year since Computing Editor John Loeffler reviewed it (he gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars).

The only catch on this deal is that it's in-store pickup only, so you'll have to see if your nearest Micro Center has stock (the page conveniently tells you if it does), but if you want a desktop replacement you'll be playing on for the rest of the decade without compromise, this laptop will deliver thanks to its stunning mini-LED 4K+ display, RTX 4090 GPU, 64GB RAM, and 4TB of PCIe SSD storage.

MSI Titan 18 HX: was $4,999.99 now $4,199.99 at Micro Center

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Good morning! We are now just under three days from Black Friday, but it seems more so than any other year, an increasing amount of retailers are going big on early Black Friday deals, and that means the days of waiting until Black Friday itself to make a purchase are long gone.

Instead, there are some absolutely excellent deals that you should jump on right now, and I'll continue to highlight all the latest offers right here as they hit, for both the UK and US.

(Image credit: Future)

Here's a bit of a peek behind the curtains - I've just got in the brand new Dell XPS 13 with Intel Core Ultra Series 2 chip, and due to Black Friday I won't be able to properly review it until next week - so I'm ditching my trusty M2 MacBook Pro for the next few days and will be using the Dell XPS 13 as my main machine throughout Black Friday.

First impressions are that it's nicely design, though the flat keyboard will take a bit of getting used to. I'm not too keen on the invisible trackpad just yet, but hopefully that grows on me. Still, the screen looks amazing, and Dell promises 26 hours of battery life. Will this go a few days of heavy deals writing? Time will tell....

Also as you can see from the image above, I've opened up Microsoft Edge.... to download Chrome.

(Image credit: Future)

Oh look, the new Dell XPS 13 has a Copilot button. How many times am I going to use it? I'm guessing... zero. Zero times.

(Image credit: Dell)

However, the Dell XPS 13 is one of the best laptops you can buy - throughout the years various editions have topped our Best Laptops page, and I can already tell this new one is going to be impressive.

The good news is that Dell usually goes really hard on Black Friday deals, especially with the Dell XPS 13, so let's kick off with some great Dell XPS 13 deals I've found - and straight away at Dell's official store I've found what might be the best laptop Black Friday deal yet:

Dell XPS 13 (Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB): was £968.99 now £598.99

This is a fantastic deal for a few reasons. While this isn't the most recent model, it comes with a 12th generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and 256GB SSD. Those specs would normally be classed as 'OK', as 8GB of RAM is a bit limited these days, and the SSD could fill up quickly. However, at just under £600, you're not going to get a better laptop at this price - the design, build quality, screen and overall performance is incredible for what Dell is selling this for. This might be the laptop deal of Black Friday 2024, so don't hang around if you've been waiting for an epic deal on a thin and light laptop. This is the one to get - yes, even over a MacBook Air.

(Image credit: Dell)

If you're after the most recent model of the Dell XPS, which comes with the AI-ready Snapdragon X Elite chip, 32GB of RAM and 512GB SSD, Dell also has a great offer on that:

Dell XPS 13 (Snapdragon X Elite, 32GB RAM, 512GB): was £1,699.99 now £1,249

Now, this is still a pricey laptop, but with a massive £450 off, this is about as close to affordable as you'll see for such a cutting-edge device. The 32GB of RAM will ensure this is a speedy performer for years, and the X Elite chip offers great performance as well as incredibly long battery life. It's well worth considering if you want a thin, light and portable laptop you can use to work pretty much anywhere.

• Microsoft announces third-party passkey support update for Windows
• Credential managers such as 1Password and Bitwarden can be used to sign in
• The update is available for users in the Windows Insider Beta Channel

Microsoft is testing support for third-party passkeys for Windows 11 in order to make signing in to your accounts quicker and safer.

The updates to WebAuthn API would provide support for password manager providers such as 1Password and Bitwarden, with whom Microsoft has partnered to improve passkeys on Windows 11.

The update would allow users to choose their own passkey provider in addition to the default Windows Hello authenticator.

Future of passkeys is now the present

Passkeys have exploded in popularity over the past couple of years, with organizations adopting them for their enhanced security and phishing-resistance, and consumers for the easy sign-in experience that typically uses a biometric authentication method such as a facial recognition scan or fingerprint - cutting down on bulky and hard to remember passwords.

“We are releasing updates to WebAuthn APIs to support a plugin authentication model for passkeys,” the Windows Insider team said in the announcement.

“In the coming months, Windows customers will be able to choose a third-party provider as an additional choice alongside the native Windows passkey provider while maintaining the Windows Hello user experience.”

“Messages in WebAuthn flows will be forwarded to the plugin and responses are returned to the WebAuthn client applications. This enables plugins to create and authenticate with passkeys when requested by the customer.”

Windows Insiders in the Beta Channel can test out the new update and provide feedback via the Feedback Hub by installing Preview Build 22635.4515 (KB5046756). Source code is also available for developers to download to enhance their product compatibility with Windows 11.

Google, Amazon, and many other tech giants are leading the charge when it comes to passkeys with adoption rates growing and quickly replacing passwords. In 2022, Google, Microsoft, and Apple committed to a FIDO Alliance agreement to expand the availability of passkeys on their platforms. Microsoft has also improved multi-factor authentication availability across its products as part of commitments to the Secure Future Initiative.

You might also like

• These are the best free password managers
• Moving passkeys between password managers is about to get a lot easier
• Take a look at our roundup of Black Friday antivirus deals

• Sling TV's price hikes take effect from 20 December
• All Blue and Orange plans are increasing by $5.99 per month
• But Sling still undercuts similar rivals, despite price rises

Sling TV has announced some fairly hefty price hikes on all three of its plans, which are effective from December 2024. The increases are the first since 2022.

Sling Orange, the cheapest plan, is going up from $40 to $45.99 per month, an increase of 15%. The same $5.99 increase is coming to the other plans. Sling Blue is currently $45 per month and the combined Blue + Orange plan is $60.

The new charges will take effect from the next billing cycle on or after 20 December.

Why is this happening? According to Sling, it's because of the program providers. "The price we pay to provide you with the programming you enjoy continues to increase well above the pace of inflation," Sling said in a note to customers.

But while "we actively fight every day on your behalf to keep costs as low as possible" it can no longer absorb the rising costs.

An industry-wide issue

(Image credit: Future)

Sling says, correctly, that this is an industry-wide issue; other streamers have upped their prices too. And it points out that it still offers "some of the lowest prices in paid live TV".

Its closest rival in live TV streaming, YouTube TV, is $72.99 for the base plan compared to $60 for Sling's full-fat offering; even with the price hike Sling's service will be cheaper, although it does differ in the range of channels it provides.

If you've been thinking of signing up to Sling but haven't yet done it, there are some offers to cut the costs: it's currently offering half-price subscriptions for the first month, and there are additional offers including $5 off the monthly Sling with Max bundle and similar add-ons such as AMC and Paramount Plus With Showtime.

You can also get a free month of the Premium pass, which is normally $32.99, to help soften the blow.

You might also like

• Read our guide to the best streaming services
• These are the best streaming deals this month
• Google TV Streamer vs Apple TV 4K: which is the best box to buy?

Make your favorite golfer’s day with the best gifts to enhance every part of their game.

Pakistan restricted yet another social media platform over the weekend.

WhatsApp is the new target of government censorship after X, Facebook, Instagram, and, most recently, Bluesky were blocked across the country.

The internet watchdog NetBlocks reported the outage on Saturday, November 23, 2024 (see tweet below).

"The measure comes as authorities tighten security ahead of protests planned by opposition party PTI calling for the release of former PM Imran Khan," noted the experts.

⚠️ Confirmed: Live metrics show WhatsApp backends have been restricted in #Pakistan corroborating reports of media sharing issues; the measure comes as authorities tighten security ahead of protests planned by opposition party PTI calling for the release of former PM Imran Khan pic.twitter.com/aHYDLN934MNovember 23, 2024

Censorship levels in Pakistan have increased significantly in 2024.

Today's most popular social media platforms first went dark in January, a month away from general elections, as Khan's party, PTI, launched its online election fundraising telethon.

Authorities enforced a temporary internet shutdown on February 8, election day. X was then restricted on the night of February 17, as a wave of protests contesting election results spread across the country. To this day, Pakistanis still cannot access the ex-Twitter app without one of the best VPNs, together with Meta's Facebook and Instagram and, since November 21, Bluesky.

Data suggests censorship tactics have become more technically sophisticated, with these advanced techniques likely to also target circumventing tools like VPNs.

Overall, experts believe that this increase in censorship is the main cause of the decline of the country's internet.

Can a VPN help?

A virtual private network (VPN) is the software that bypasses social media blocks. In addition to encrypting all your internet connections, a VPN spoofs your real IP address location, in fact, granting you access to otherwise geo-blocked content.

This is exactly why VPN usage has soared throughout the year, with Proton VPN recording an increase in sign-ups of over 350% at the beginning of November alone.

Yet, people could lose access to their VPN apps at the end of the month. November 30 is the deadline to register their services with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to avoid disruptions.

While the PTA urges businesses and freelance workers not to miss the registration deadline, the debate is still ongoing on whether or not commercial VPNs should also be blocked.

Do you know?

(Image credit: Getty Images)

On November 15, Pakistan's religious chief said that using a VPN is against Islamic law and called for a ban – then blamed a typo error in the statement a few days later, The News reported. Yet, the Ministry of Interior also called to block all "illegal" VPNs on the same day, claiming that terrorists use these tools "to facilitate violent activities and financial transactions in Pakistan."

Even VPN providers are still in the dark about the fate of their users.

"It's still unclear how it will be implemented in practice if implemented at all," Gytis Malinauskas, Head of Legal at VPN provider Surfshark, told TechRadar.

"However, it seems that the government aims to block access to certain websites/services by blocking VPN access to people who are not registered as VPN users in Pakistan," he added.

At the beginning of the month, residents already experienced issues accessing their VPN tools for about 24 hours. What appeared to be the beginning of the crackdown on "unregistered" VPNs was later deemed a "brief technical glitch" by authorities. Surfshark was among the services temporarily throttled.

If you're looking for a way to keep accessing WhatsApp and other blocked platforms, I suggest checking out our best free VPN page to get all the most secure freebies out there without paying for them all. This will allow you to hop from one service to another in case of throttling. Tools like the Tor Browser could also help.

• Get Licensing Ready site will cease to exist from January 1, 2025
• Users have been given until New Year’s Eve to complete training
• New AI-powered learning enhancements are coming soon

Microsoft has quietly confirmed it will be closing down its ‘Get Licensing Ready’ page in the New Year, giving users until just the end of the year to finish their training modules.

Advertised as a “complete and up-to-date resource for anyone who needs to learn about Microsoft licensing,” the page hosts over 50 modules and other documentation designed to help users navigate the tricky world of software licensing.

The dedicated email alias for Get Licensing Ready will also stop working on January 1, 2025.

Microsoft closes down Get Licensing Ready

A pop-up on the page confirms: “The Get Licensing Ready website will be retiring on January 1st, 2025. Microsoft will be ending support for licensing certifications through this platform and phasing out the Get Licensing Ready resource.”

Although users have a little over a month to complete any active modules and download their certificates, current certificates will remain valid for the full 12-month period from the date that they were issued.

Despite the platform’s closure, it seems the content and resources will be relocated to microsoft.com/licensing. A spokesperson stated (via The Register) the company “remains committed to supporting licensing knowledge and solution-building for our partners and customers.”

Microsoft also hinted at new features, citing “new AI capabilities to further enhance learning and engagement.” The recently launched Partner Center AI assistant currently helps with managing partner accounts, billing and memberships, but it doesn’t address licensing concerns.

In the meantime, although resources will continue to be available in a slightly different format, users of the site will need to act quickly to ensure that their certifications are complete and downloaded before the New Year deadline.

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• Yet more adverts have been spotted in Windows 11
• Ads for Black Ops 6 and Microsoft 365 appear via the notifications panel
• You can turn off these 'suggestions' though

If you don’t like adverts in Windows 11 – the efforts that Microsoft calls ‘suggestions’ or ‘recommendations’ – then steel yourself, because it seems the software giant is stepping up its promotional drive in the OS, in a somewhat left-field way.

Windows Latest calls our attention to these fresh ad-related activities in Windows 11 which amount to nudges to purchase a game, and also Microsoft 365.

Both of these adverts come via the notification panel, labeled as ‘suggestions,’ and the game in question is Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Vault Edition – which Microsoft wants you to buy from, you guessed it, the Microsoft Store. In fact, a ‘Buy Now’ button in the notification will take you straight to the store page for that version of Black Ops 6. The other choice is simply to click to ‘Dismiss’ the nag panel.

Windows Latest also shows us another notification prompt in the exact same vein as the Black Ops 6 affair, except this time it’s advertising the Microsoft Defender app.

Note that this is different than the Defender tool built into Windows 11 (or 10) as an integrated antivirus. This is the standalone Defender app that offers the ability to monitor your security and protection across platforms – Windows 11 and Android – with bits of extra functionality therein.

If you want the Microsoft Defender app, though, you’ll find out the catch if you click on the choice in the notification to ‘Stay Safer,’ which takes you to a page for said app – where you’ll find out that you need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to use it.

(Image credit: Shutterstock) Reaching for the off switch

So, that second ad is Microsoft’s way of trying to drum up some extra subscriptions for Microsoft 365, though we have to say, it’s a pretty flimsy lure. Ditto for the prospect of all that many PC gamers buying Black Ops 6 through the Microsoft Store.

What we should note about these adverts – or suggestions, if you’re inclined to agree with Microsoft’s, shall we say, kinder wording – is that you don’t have to receive them.

All you need to do to get rid of these prompts is to uncheck the box to ‘Get tips and suggestions when using Windows’ in the Settings app, under System > Notifications. You can also get rid of post-update nag panels, and those prompts about finishing setting up your PC that appear periodically, by unticking those boxes, too.

There are, however, embedded bits of ads, or advert-like behavior, elsewhere in Windows 11 that you can’t switch off. Eventually, we’d like to see a system-wide switch to turn off any recommendations for users who’d prefer not to have a single prompt anywhere, but let’s face it, we’re pretty much dreaming here. (Although it does look like Microsoft might be becoming a bit more transparent around its suggestions, though).

Sadly, more advertising seems like a growing trend this year, not just in Windows 11, but also in Windows 10 – where Microsoft’s latest move is to try and push those users on the older OS to switch to Windows 11 via a hardware upgrade to a Copilot+ PC. Again, that’s quite a stretch, especially in these early days, as the AI capabilities of those Copilot+ laptops are still to be fully fleshed out (Recall is finally in testing, mind – for some folks).

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